The local share market has gained ground for the fourth time in the past five sessions, and set its second all-time high of the week.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday finished up 37.6 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 8,444.3, while the broader All Ordinaries gained 40.4 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 8,700.
The ASX200's close eclipsed Monday's for its highest ever, and its intraday high of 8,477.1 also broke Monday's record.
Moomoo analyst Jessica Amir said that the market's long-term bullish narrative remained very much intact, with bets increasing that the Fed would cut interest rates next month.
Six of the ASX's 11 sectors finished higher on Thursday and five closed lower. Health care was the biggest gainer, rising 1.6 per cent thanks to a similar jump for CSL, along with a 8.7 per cent rise for Pro Medicus.
Shares in the medical imaging company had hit an all-time high of $248.18 after another contract win, this time a $A330 million, 10-year deal with Trinity Health, a 93-hospital group in the US.
AVJennings was the day's standout performer, soaring 87.9 per cent to a six-year high of 62 cents a takeover offer from Proprium Capital Partners and AVID Property Group to take the residential property development company private at 67 cents per share.
AVJennings' board said it had been engaged with AVID since July regarding the offer and would unanimously recommend shareholders accept it once finalised.
In the financial sector, IAG gained 3.6 per cent to a five-year high of $8.53 after the insurance giant said it had entered into a 25-year deal with the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland to provide insurance products to RACQ members.
All of the big four banks finished higher, with CBA rising 0.6 per cent to $158.58, Westpac gaining 0.8 per cent to $33.40, NAB rising 0.9 per cent to $39.53 and ANZ adding 0.4 per cent to $31.50.
In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP grew 0.7 per cent to $40.07, Fortescue climbed 0.3 per cent to $18.70 while Rio Tinto was flat at $117.14.
Star Entertainment Group sank 7.1 per cent to a fresh all-time low of 19.5 cents after top executives warned its annual general meeting that the troubled casino group remained in an extremely challenging position.
The Australian dollar was buying 64.84 US cents, from 64.75 US cents at Wednesday's ASX close.
ON THE ASX:
* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index finished Thursday up 37.6 points, or 0.45 per cent, at 8,444.3
* The broader All Ordinaries gained 40.4 points, or 0.47 per cent, to 8,700.
CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:
One Australian dollar buys:
* 64.84 US cents, from 64.75 US cents at Wednesday's ASX close
* 98.21 Japanese yen, from 98.56 Japanese yen
* 61.48 euro cents, from 61.79 euro cents
* 51.21 British pence, from 51.51 pence
* 110.09 NZ cents, from 110.34 NZ cents.
